I am a Zumba Student

I'm not sure if student is the right word.

I've joined a Zumba group. I'm not an overly religious person but it is a faith-based group called Redeemed Zumba Fitness. There are five classes a week and I regularly attend at least two. 20% of the class fees go to a different charity each month and we host regular Zumbathons for people in need.
This group of women (mostly, there are a few men trickling in and they are more than welcome!) is one of the most non-judgemental groups of people I have ever been involved with. (The other is my PFLAG group, but that is for another post.) They have accepted me, and anyone else who walks through those doors, with open arms and you immediately become family. We have laughed together, cried together and we definitely sweat together. We have grown to having around 70 people in class each night. We email, text and facebook constantly.

Like my belly dance community, I never expected this when I walked in to class the first time. I thought I'd go a few times, didn't really think it was for me but I was trying to support a friend who started teaching the class. I was hooked. The other ladies have wonderful success stories of the scale slowly moving down. I don't have that yet. What I see in the mirror is improving so I'm not worried about that number. In case you are wondering, no, this is NOT a new year's resolution thing. Honestly, I started the week of Christmas. I was lonely. I am recently divorced (again, another post in the future, maybe). My son was going to be with his father, the guy I was seeing at the time was going to be out of town. I didn't know what to do with myself. I knew I did not want to sit at home, bored, on the couch the entire time I was off work. I ended up being invited to a 70's party right before New Years. (Forgive the blurry picture but its the best I've got of the AWESOME outfit I picked up at Wild N Crazy Vintage in Greensboro for the party) I definitely didn't spend the holidays alone!

Last Saturday, we hosted a Zumbathon for Jane Whitley. She is battling cancer and needs a stem cell procedure. The idea was brought to the group by the pastor at Trinity UMC. He did not know her personally. Jackie, our instructor, does not know her. A few people did show up Saturday that actually knew Jane and how important this was for her family. The majority of the people involved had no clue. They just got the call that someone was in need and stepped up to the plate, ready to go to bat for this stranger so that she could receive the care she needed. We heard that the procedure was around $3,000 and they had been able to raise $2,000 so far. $1,000 seemed like a lofty goal for an event thrown together in about 2 weeks time. NOT FOR THIS GROUP! The final figure was approximately $1,700. We came together, we danced our tails off for 2.5-3 hours and it was all for a good cause. 

WSET even showed up to cover the event. Did they show up at 10 am when we were fresh and energized? Did they show up at 10 am when we were working with the instructor we knew? Did they show up when the room was packed? Oh, no, that would have been too perfect! They showed up near the end of the 3rd hour. We didn't know any of the routines, the instructor was like Tigger (you know, top made of rubber, bottom made out of springs?), and we were all about to collapse. If you look closely at the beginning of the clip, you can spy me in all black on the left hand side of your screen.

WSET - Zumbathon for Jane Whitley

I'm learning that the more positive activities and influences you have in your life, the happier you are. I'm glad I decided to walk in to this Zumba class. I have walked away with much more than an hour of cardio.